Wigan took a massive step towards Premier League survival with a 2-0 victory against fellow strugglers Birmingham City at the JJB Stadium.

Ryan Taylor scored a goal in each half to earn Steve Bruce's side a thoroughly deserved three points against their manager's former employers.

It was a miserable afternoon for Blues manager Alex McLeish, who also saw his captain Damien Johnson sent-off for wild tackle in the first half.

Wigan were the brighter side right from kick off and were well worth the lead they took a quarter of an hour in. Antonio Valencia made a penetrating burst down the right wing before swinging a low cross into the penalty area which was emphatically smashed into the bottom-left corner of Birmingham's net by full back Taylor.

Replays showed Taylor's effort had flown in off his shin, but the Wigan wide-man was due a break after having a luckless afternoon at Portsmouth last week, where he saw a penalty saved.

One-nil up in a relegation six-pointer, some might have expected Wigan to sit back to protect their lead from there on in, but the Latics instead bombarded Birmingham's goal in search of a second.

Valencia and Heskey had decent efforts saved by Maik Taylor, while Wigan's Taylor bent a free kick over the defensive wall and on target only to see his namesake in the Birmingham goal save again after half an hour.

The match swung decisively in the home side's favour six minute later when Blues skipper Johnson was shown a straight red for a diving challenge on Kevin Kilbane. It may have been one-footed, but it was a malicious challenge which fully merited the punishment handed out by referee Mike Dean.

Kilbane was able to carry on after the tackle, and the Irishman almost helped Wigan make the most of their numerical advantage straight away. A long throw into the box was worked back to the former Everton midfielder on the edge of the box, from where he slapped a left-footed drive against the inside of Maik Taylor's left-hand post.

Bent came close for the home side again minutes later, firing just wide from inside the six-yard box after good work by Mario Melchiot on the right wing.

The only chance of note for Birmingham in the first half came from their man of the moment, Argentinian striker Mauro Zarate, who made a lively run from midfield before curling a right-footed shot narrowly wide of Chris Kirkland's left-hand post on the stroke of half-time.

Wigan continued their dominance in the second half. Emile Heskey outpaced Martin Taylor - returning to Premier League action for the first time since his tackle that broke the leg of Arsenal forward Eduardo - before shooting just wide with the first move of the second period.

The result was put beyond doubt soon afterwards as the outstanding Valencia made another incisive run down the right before squaring for Bent, who headed goalwards. Maik Taylor palmed the ball clear, but Taylor was on hand to force the ball over the line for his second strike of the afternoon.

With a two-goal cushion, Wigan did decide to curb their attacking instincts in the remaining minutes. Birmingham were restricted to playing hopeful balls into the box, although Mikael Forsell almost managed to head a long throw inside Kirkland's left-hand post with half an hour left.

Further to that effort, Birmingham's ten men failed to create any real chances as Wigan held on for one of their more comfortable wins this season, a result that pulls them eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Birmingham now look like the only side that 18th-placed Bolton, who remain four points behind the Blues after their 4-0 hammering at Aston Villa, can catch in their bid to stay up.

Ben Phillips / Eurosport